Campus Spotlight: Erin Moore
A Consultant’s Insights on the Power of On-the-Job Learning and Building a Professional Network
Erin Moore is a Consultant with Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Public Sector Services in Washington, D.C. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political theory and constitutional democracy from Michigan State University.
In the following Q&A, Erin shares how her initial pursuit of a legal career in college led her to discover her passion for making a difference outside of the law, ultimately guiding her to A&M. She discusses her journey from Intern to becoming a full-time Consultant, highlighting the supportive culture of A&M's Washington, D.C. office. She offers advice to recent graduates, shares her approach to networking and talks about the benefits of working in consulting. Finally, Erin reveals how the book "Self-Compassion" by Kristin Neff impacted her life and shares the best advice she’s ever received about embracing new responsibilities.
Reflecting on your college experience, what unexpected lessons or insights have you gained that have significantly impacted your career?
I wanted to be a lawyer when I started college, so I joined a pre-law fraternity and got involved in other pursuits that would set me up for law school after graduating. Unexpectedly, those experiences helped me realize that while I was still passionate about making a difference in people’s lives, I didn’t necessarily want to pursue that as a lawyer. This had a substantial impact on the trajectory of my career because it opened the door to so many other options that I hadn’t considered before, including being here at A&M. I’m incredibly grateful for this experience because it taught me to keep an open mind and use every pursuit as a learning opportunity, which is an approach that still benefits me today.
Blending Personal Values With Professional Goals
Why did you choose to intern at A&M?
In my sophomore year of college, I participated in a Career Exposure Trip with Michigan State University’s James Madison College to Washington, D.C. I immediately knew I wanted to be in D.C. after finishing undergrad. While pivoting my career aspirations away from law school, I pursued various types of internships in D.C., including in industries like consulting that were entirely new for me. Ultimately, I desired to try something new in a city I loved, leading to A&M’s internship. I was inspired by a highly impactful child welfare project that A&M’s Public Sector practice had recently completed, and I wanted to get involved in their meaningful work alongside talented people.
What motivated your decision to join A&M full-time?
Even though my internship was virtual, I still had all the same opportunities to dive headfirst into client-facing work. Having an internship that gave me an authentic view into the day-to-day of a public sector consultant made me want to continue this work full-time. As an Intern, I led meetings with C-Suite executives supporting a state Department of Health’s COVID-19 testing workstream. Doing this work at the height of the pandemic showed me the real impact that integrating public affairs and business could have on people’s lives. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of taking on different projects and developing new skill sets, especially in the public sector context.
Which office are you based in, and how would you describe the office culture?
I am based in the Washington, D.C. office and love the office culture here. Despite different client travel schedules, our office is highly collaborative and social when we’re in person. Many people in my office are also involved in our various employee resource groups (ERGs), and we often have many social events planned for people to participate in. I represent the D.C. office on the board of A&M’s Women’s Leadership Connection. I interact with a phenomenal group of women across business units to plan networking and professional development events for this ERG, both in-office and off-site.
Embracing Early Career Challenges as Learning Opportunities
Reflecting on your career's early stages, what unexpected challenges did you encounter, and how did you navigate them to emerge stronger?
Within a few months of my full-time career, I had the unexpected opportunity to take on the Project Management Office role within an extremely fast-paced and high-impact project. The most challenging part of this experience was the intense learning curve and the short timeline I had before performing the role. Thankfully, I had a fantastic team that supported me throughout this transition, giving me helpful lessons and constructive feedback that enabled my success in the role. This experience gave me the confidence and ability to take on any opportunity that requires on-the-job learning, which has been the most valuable skill that has substantially impacted my career.
Who are the individuals you consider your closest mentors, and what valuable lessons have you learned from them?
I have been extremely fortunate to have many mentors in my life, both formal and informal. Ian Collins, my Performance Advisor, has taught me the value of constantly being in a state of learning and seeking challenges. As a fellow member of the Women’s Leadership Connection’s board, Kristina Park has taught me innumerable lessons on navigating consulting and the workforce as a woman. Shivani Patel and Catilin Molina, as previous Project Managers, have been exceptional examples of what it means to be compassionate and effective leaders who seek to better people’s lives. These are just a few of the many people who have been my mentors, and I’m grateful for all the lessons I’ve learned from them.
What crucial skills or qualities do you believe students should prioritize developing to thrive in the consulting industry, and how can they best prepare themselves?
Having started as an Intern and having supported multiple Intern classes, one of the most critical skills that will enable students to succeed in consulting is a willingness to learn and an ability to seek help. Starting a new project can be nerve-wracking, especially when you’re unfamiliar with its subject matter or need to develop a new skill set for your role. Students may think asking questions shows they don’t know “enough,” but it demonstrates self-awareness and a desire to grow—both critical components to successful projects. Because the nature of consulting is regularly taking on different kinds of projects, prioritizing these skills is essential for success in these periods of uncertainty. Students can quickly hone their ability to learn new skills and subject matters by taking classes outside their majors or focus areas.
Smoothing the Transition from Academia to the Professional World
Looking back, what advice would you offer recent graduates about effectively transitioning from academia to the professional world?
I would tell recent graduates to be kind to themselves while transitioning to their careers after college. Everyone experiences angst when starting their careers, and the classroom is no longer the central aspect of their lives. This experience is entirely normal, and I encourage recent graduates to embrace this phase of learning and growth. Setting goals and pursuing your passions can help graduates stay grounded during this transition and will set them up for success later in their careers.
How do you approach networking and building professional relationships, and what tips would you offer to others just starting?
As an introvert, I’ve learned to take a modified approach to networking, and this approach might be helpful to those who are just starting their career and may feel overwhelmed at the start of building a professional network. To expand my professional relationships, I like to get involved in many different initiatives and build a strong, meaningful relationship with a few individuals in each—instead of setting a goal to develop a relationship with everyone I have ever worked with. I maintain those relationships through coffee chats and check-ins. This allows me to eventually build strong relationships with a broad range of folks, which can be helpful for those starting their career who will constantly be meeting many incredible people.
What are some notable perks or benefits you've experienced working in the consulting industry?
Consulting has allowed me to work with highly talented and mission-driven public sector leaders. Traveling across the country has enabled me to meet people of various backgrounds and see the great work that they do for their communities. I’m incredibly grateful for the chance to support and learn from these incredible public servants.
What's a book, movie or TV show that has profoundly impacted you, and why?
“Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself” by Kristin Neff has tremendously impacted my life. In today’s ultra-competitive society, many have been incorrectly taught that being self-critical is an effective internal motivation. I’ve seen time and time again in my personal and professional networks— especially in consulting—where this negative self-criticism and mental punishment for one’s “failures” has ultimately detracted from people’s success. This book gave me insight into the self-compassion approach, which includes treating yourself with kindness and giving yourself the safety to experience the full range of being human, which includes making mistakes and learning from difficult times in life. I recommend this book to all my fellow perfectionist overachievers in consulting in the hopes that it supports their success and well-being!
What's the best advice you've ever received, and how has it influenced your life?
The best advice I’ve ever received was to take on new responsibilities or ventures, even if I didn’t know exactly how to do it yet. This advice has opened the door to numerous opportunities, many of which I would not have had if I had waited to put myself forward for them until I had all the “right” skill sets and experiences to know exactly how to do the work. What I’ve learned from this advice is to trust my ability to constantly be in a state of learning so that whenever I’m in a new environment or face a new experience, I can rely on myself to figure out how to do the job well. That includes knowing how to leverage my network and available resources to ask questions and seek feedback.
